Device and method for monitoring process data in road finishing

ABSTRACT

A wearable computer is used for monitoring process data in road finishing. The wearable computer receives process data of the road finishing process. In the event of process data lying outside a predetermined range, the wearable computer effects alerting of the wearer of the wearable computer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from European Patent Application No.16164504.9, filed Apr. 8, 2016, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to the field of road finishing, inparticular to monitoring of process data in road finishing asaccumulates, e.g., in the preparation of the subsoil for finishing thenew road, in the placing of the asphalt surfacing and in the finishingof the introduced asphalt surfacing. Such process data includes, e.g.,the temperature of the asphalt material prior to introduction thereof asthe road surface, during introduction and during finishing, the layerthickness of the material introduced or the layer thickness of subsoilremoved, for example by means of milling or by other soil workingmachines. Further process data includes monitoring of the temperatureduring delivery of the asphalt material from the place of manufacture tothe construction site and/or the time duration of the transport or thedowntimes of construction vehicles transporting the asphalt material. Inparticular, the present invention relates to the field of constructionmachines and construction vehicles such as road finishing machines, roadmillers, road rollers and trucks and/or construction vehicles fortransporting asphalt, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the production of a road surface, a multitude of process dataaccumulates. From an asphalt mixing plant to transport and placing ofthe asphalt up to finishing of the road surface. The process data is,e.g., the temperature of the asphalt, the weight of the asphalt placed,the compaction values, the degree of segregation, the evenness or thelayer thickness of the finished road. To ensure high quality anddurability of the road, said process data should be permanentlymonitored. In addition, material consumption as well as the truckdowntimes, e.g., the waiting times prior to reaching the finishingmachine, for example, play an equally important part in the finishingprocess and influence the quality of the road surface to be producedsince, for example, in the event of relatively long truck downtimes, thematerial will cool off to a higher degree or since due to excessivematerial consumption, increased cost of the road will result, which aretypically to be borne by the executing company.

Thus, when building a road, there is a large amount of interest in anoptimized placing process. In conventional technology, approaches havebeen known to monitoring the entire construction process with regard tothe run times of the finishing machine and with regard to materialsupply, namely the delivery of the asphalt by the trucks as well as theabove-mentioned truck downtimes, and to keeping them within an optimumrange. In addition, approaches have been known wherein some of theabove-mentioned process data, which is influenced and/or changed byvarious machines and vehicles on the way from the asphalt mixing plantto the construction site, are continuously monitored and documented, forexample by the BPO system by Volz Consulting GmbH (seehttp://www.volzconsulting.de).

The disadvantage of the approaches known in conventional technologyconsists in that portable computer devices are used at the constructionsite, e.g., laptops, smartphones or tablet computers, which havecorresponding software programs running thereon via which monitoring ofthe above-mentioned process data by a site manager is facilitated.However, the known approaches operate such that the entire buildingprocess and the relevant process data is provided, so that it involves alarge amount of effort on the part of the site manager, or projectmanager, in situ to keep an eye on all of the process data, inparticular with the aim of ensuring that specific data remain withincertain limits. If a data value changes, so that same is outside thementioned range, this will not be readily apparent for the site manager,even if the device generates a visual, acoustic or tactile alert(vibrating alert) since the device is not held or watched by the sitemanager at any time since said site manager will perform actions, withinthe framework of his/her job as the site manager, during which he/shedoes not have an eye on the process data provided, for example whengiving instructions or during a discussion with other persons as theconstruction site. Thus, a situation may arise where a data value leavesan admissible range or desired range and where this fact is detectedwith a delay only, so that the appropriate countermeasures will be takenwith a time delay.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a device for monitoring process data in roadfinishing may have a wearable computer, the wearable computer beingconfigured to receive process data of the road finishing process, andthe wearable computer being configured to effect alerting of the wearerof the wearable computer in the event that process data lie outside apredetermined range.

According to another embodiment, a method of monitoring process data inroad finishing may have the steps of: receiving process data of the roadfinishing process on a wearable computer, and alerting the wearer of thewearable computer by the wearable computer if the process data liesoutside a predetermined range.

According to another embodiment, a non-transitory digital storage mediummay have a computer program stored thereon to perform the inventivemethod, when said computer program is run by a computer.

In accordance with embodiments, provision may be made for the wearablecomputer to effect visual alerting, acoustic alerting, tactile alertingor a combination of these types of alerting; tactile alerting mayinclude a vibrating alert. In accordance with further embodiments, thewearable computer is configured to present the process data to a wearerof the wearable computer. In accordance with yet further embodiments,the wearable computer is a data watch (e.g., a smartwatch) or dataeyeglasses (e.g., smart eyeglasses) or an electronic contact lens or ahead-up display or an augmented-reality display device and/or a similaradaptive device worn by the wearer, e.g., the site manager.

The inventive device is advantageous since it serves to enable a sitemanager, project manager or a similar person who is at the constructionsite to more quickly recognize critical data and/or critical rangesduring a road finishing process, whereby he/she is enabled to takeappropriate countermeasures more quickly. Utilization of a wearablecomputer, for example a data watch worn on the wrist, which is alsoreferred to as a smartwatch, or a pair of data eyeglasses being worn,for example, is advantageous since this ensures that the wearer is incontact at any time with the wearable computer on which the data isdisplayed while still being able to mainly concentrate on his/her worksince he/she need not steadily monitor a display or screen. In addition,process data lying outside a predetermined range enable an alert beingoutput by the wearable computer device, which alert will be directlyperceived by the wearer of said wearable computer, for example avibrating alert, which is perceivable on the wearer's wrist and/or faceand will direct the wearer's attention to the wearable computer and theprocess data displayed, so that the wearer will recognize readily andwithout any time loss when the process data leaves a desired range, andthus may take appropriate countermeasures. As a result, the abovementioned problems relating to a reduced quality of the placing and/orrelating to possibly increased cost due to increased material expensesare avoided.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, provision ismade for the wearable computer to be configured to receive the processdata from a construction site where the road finishing is performed,from a place of manufacture where the material for the road finishing isproduced, and/or from one or more positions between the place ofmanufacture and the construction site.

This approach is advantageous since in this manner, critical processdata may be monitored during the entire finishing process, from theasphalt mixing plant to finishing of the road surface, so as toimmediately inform the site manager on site about possible deviations.For example, the inventive approach enables recognizing any deviationsof a temperature of the asphalt material from a target temperature thatoccur at the mixing plant already, so that the site manager may pointthis error out to the asphalt mixing plant by getting into contact withthem before the asphalt material is transported away from the plant, sothat the insufficiently warm or excessively hot asphalt material doesnot even reach the construction site. Likewise, other parameters of theasphalt material may also be detected at the site of the asphalt mixingplant and be monitored with regard to complying with specific parametervalues such as monitoring the amount of the material by means of theweight output by the asphalt mixing plant. Moreover, the temperature maybe monitored along the route from the asphalt mixing plant to theconstruction site via communication with the transport vehicle, orconstruction vehicle, so as to give the driver of the vehicleinstructions, e.g., to drive quickly to the construction site so as todeliver the asphalt material at a sufficient temperature. The number oftransport vehicles on their way to the construction site may also bemonitored, so that, for example, in case a waiting time of theconstruction vehicles at the construction site prior to reaching theroad finisher exceeds a limiting value, no further vehicles will berequested.

In accordance with further embodiments, the device includes a computerconfigured to receive process data for a plurality of parameters of theroad finishing, the computer and the wearable computer each including awireless communication module, and the computer being configured toenable the wearer of the wearable computer to select at least oneparameter from the plurality of parameters of road finishing and toeffect transmission of the process data of the selected parameter to thewearable computer.

This implementation is advantageous since it enables cooperation withwearable computers known in conventional technology, for examplelaptops, smartphones or tablet computers, on which process dataconcerning the construction site has already been collected, as wasexplained above in the introduction to the description. A user, forexample the project manager, may select, by means of said devices, whichprocess data is critical at the current point in time, and which rangesmay be kept to, so that only the critical process data is transmitted tothe wearable computer so as to effect the inventive alerting directly atthe wearer of the wearable computer.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the computer includes awearable computer arranged at the construction site or a controlcomputer of construction machine, of a construction vehicle or of asensor.

This implementation is advantageous since according to the invention,utilization of wearable computers as have already been in use in knownapproaches is enabled without involving any additional hardware. Also,utilization of the control computer of a construction machine, of aconstruction vehicle or of a sensor is advantageous since in this case,one may directly resort to existing hardware with which the wearablecomputer may enter into direct contact so as to provide the inventivefunctionality.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the device includes a centralcomputer arranged at a distance from the construction site and the placeof manufacture and including a mobile radio module so as to establish aterrestrial or satellite-based mobile radio link between one or moreconstruction machines and/or one or more construction vehicles and/orone or more sensors and the central computer, the computer including amobile radio module so as to effect a terrestrial or satellite-basedmobile radio link with the central computer so as to obtain the processdata via the central computer.

This implementation is advantageous since in this manner, centralmanagement of the process data from one or more construction sites isenabled, and starting from the central station, the relevant processdata may be transmitted to the computer for forwarding to the wearablecomputer while using a mobile radio network.

In accordance with further embodiments, the device includes a pair ofdata eyeglasses including a camera, the pair of data eyeglasses beingconfigured to send an image of a construction machine, of a constructionvehicle or of a sensor from which the process data is to be received, tothe computer via the wireless communication module, the computer beingconfigured to identify the unit depicted in the received image, torequest process data for at least one selected parameter from theidentified unit, and to send the process data for the selected parameterto the data eyeglasses, via the wireless communication module, forpresentation to the wearer of the data eyeglasses.

This implementation is advantageous since in this manner, a simpleselection of the unit is enabled from which the site manager or, moregenerally speaking, the wearer of the data eyeglasses wants to obtaininformation, in particular process data to be monitored with regard tocomplying with limiting values. The selection is performed via theimaging method and involves no communication with the computer or theconstruction machine itself, so that a selection of the unit that iscurrently of interest and is to be monitored becomes possible in asimple manner.

In accordance with further embodiments, the wearable computer isconfigured to enable the wearer to perform an input, in response to thealert, so as to control the road finishing process such that the processdata returns to the predetermined range.

This implementation is advantageous since in this manner, the sitemanager is given the possibility, for example, to immediately react tothe alerting, i.e., to immediately react to the fact that a processparameter has left the permitted range. By means of a correspondinginput via the wearable computer, a control signal is generated which isreturned to the corresponding unit, for example to the constructionmachine, so as to modify, for example, the settings of the constructionmachine, so that the process data will once again lie within the desiredrange. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, fast, or immediate,reaction to the alerting is enabled without involving any input at thecomputer connected therebetween or at the construction machine or at theunit to be controlled, as a result of which the reaction time isincreased.

The present invention further provides a method of monitoring processdata in road finishing, the method comprising:

receiving process data of the road finishing process on a wearablecomputer, and

alerting the wearer of the wearable computer by the wearable computer ifthe process data lies outside a predetermined range.

In accordance with embodiments, the method further comprises presentingthe received process data to a wearer of the wearable computer. Inaccordance with further embodiments, the method further includes, inresponse to the alerting, generating an input on the wearable computer,and in response to the input, controlling the road finishing processsuch that the process data returns to the predetermined range.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments the invention relates to continuousmonitoring of the entire construction process of a road by means of dataeyeglasses or a data watch whereon process data, in particular criticaldata, may be quickly indicated to a site manager, project manager or asimilar person who is on the construction site. Critical data is processdata, for example, which is outside an admissible range, for example atemperature of a building material/asphalt delivered in a truck beingtoo low, the average temperature measured downstream from the roadfinisher being too low, and the like. If such process data is detectedto lie outside an admissible range, countermeasures may be takenimmediately so as to ensure the desired placing quality of the road.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequentlyreferring to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a road finishing process wherein theinventive approach to monitoring process data is employed;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary presentation of process parameters on adisplay of a wearable computer;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein a further computer, e.g. in the formof a laptop computer, a tablet computer or a smartphone, is arranged ata construction site in addition to the wearable computer;

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention wherein adata watch and/or a wearable computer directly communicates with a roadfinishing machine on a construction site;

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present application, inaccordance with which a data watch and/or a wearable computercommunicates with a server or central computer located at a distancefrom a construction site; and

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the inventive method of monitoring processdata in road finishing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the subsequent description of the advantageous embodiments of thepresent invention, elements which are identical or have identicalactions will be provided with identical reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a road finishing process whereinthe inventive approach to monitoring process data is employed. FIG. 1shows the road finishing process starting with an asphalt mixing plant100, via the transport of the asphalt material, which is schematicallyshown at 102, to the production of the road surface at the constructionsite schematically depicted by 104.

The asphalt mixing plant 100 includes a storage container 106 containingan asphalt material 108 which is to be used for building and which isfilled into a truck 110, e.g., a dumper-type semitrailer truck, forbeing transported to the construction site 104. The composition andtemperature of the asphalt material 108 are monitored within the asphaltmixing plant via corresponding sensors S schematically shown in FIG. 1so as to ensure that the asphalt material 108 is output by the asphaltmixing plant 100 with a predefined quality.

During transport 102 by means of the truck 110, the temperature of theasphalt material located within a transport trough 112 is monitored, forexample. Moreover, the journey time of the truck 110 from the asphaltmixing plant 100 to the construction site 104 may be monitored duringtransport 102, as may the number of trucks 110 used for the transport.Monitoring of the temperature is effected by means of a sensor S whichis either arranged within the trough 112, as is shown in FIG. 1, or ispart of the tractor of the truck 110.

At the construction site 104, the asphalt material 108 is placed bymeans of a road finishing machine 114, which obtains the asphaltmaterial from one of the trucks 110 and builds it in a manner known perse. The road finishing machine 114 may comprise corresponding sensors Sso as monitor specific parameters of the material processed, for examplethe temperature of the asphalt material, the placement thickness and thelike. Additionally or alternatively, these parameters may also bedetected by external sensors 116 located at the construction site 104,for example by hand-wearable temperature sensors by means of whichworkers detect the temperature of the placed asphalt layer immediatelydownstream from the road finishing machine 114.

In addition, finishing of the asphalt surfacing introduced by thefinisher 114 may be provided at the construction site 104, for exampleby means of road rollers. Specific parameters such as the compactiondegree or the thickness of the finished layer, for example, may bemonitored by corresponding sensors even during finishing by the roadrollers. Moreover, provision may be made, in the context of building aroad, for working on the subsoil prior to the actual placement of theasphalt surfacing, for example by means of a road miller which at leastpartly removes an old surface. Alternatively, it is also possible toremove the entire road surface and to newly process the subsoil, forexample by means of corresponding construction machines such asexcavators, bulldozers and the like. The same applies to a completelynew reconstruction of a road, wherein placement of the asphalt layer ispreceded by preparation of the subsoil accordingly by means ofappropriate construction machines. Predetermined parameters may bemonitored during said preparatory work as well, such as the amount ofthe old asphalt layer removed and/or the height of the ground worked on,e.g., in relation to a reference height. For this purpose, too, thecorresponding construction machines comprise corresponding sensors.

The parameters monitored within the asphalt mixing plant 100, duringtransport 102 and at the construction site 104 by the above-mentionedsensors generate process data by means of which compliance with specificlimiting values can be monitored. As was already mentioned above,approaches have been known wherein the process data is received andmonitored, at the construction site 104, by the various sensors or atleast some of the sensors so as to enable a site manager to control theconstruction process. In order to solve the problems arising inconventional technology with regard to process data which indicatesdeviations of the parameters outside specific ranges, an approach isproposed, according to the invention, wherein, e.g., the site manager118 responsible for the construction site 104 wears a so-called wearablecomputer, i.e., a computer system arranged and/or fixed on the body ofthe site manager 118 during application. The wearable computer differsfrom utilization of other mobile computer systems, for example laptops,smartphones or tablet computers, in that the site manager's mainactivity is not utilization of the computer itself. Within the contextof the present invention this means that the site manager 118 wears thewearable computer and obtains via said wearable computer predeterminedprocess data from the various sensors regarding the desired parameters.In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the wearable computeris a data watch 122 (also referred to as a smartwatch below) worn on thearm 120 of the site manager 118 and/or a pair of data eyeglasses (smarteyeglasses) 124 worn by the site manager 118.

The smartwatch 122 may be an essentially commercial smartwatch that wasprogrammed in accordance with the teachings of the present applicationand/or which has an application installed thereon, for example aprogram, e.g., an app, operating in accordance with the teachings of thepresent application. The smartwatch 122 contains a body 126 wherein thedata processing elements not depicted in the figure are arranged so asto implement the inventive functionality. Moreover, the smartwatch 122includes the display 128, for example in the form of a touch screen, viawhich process data is displayed, as will be explained in more detailbelow. By means of the touch screen one may further be enabled toperform an input into the smartwatch 122, which will then be transmittedto a remote location, for example, as will be explained in more detailbelow. The smartwatch 122 further includes the wireless communicationmodule 130, schematically depicted in FIG. 1, for enabling wirelesscommunication 132.

The data eyeglasses 124 may be essentially commercial data eyeglassesthat were programmed in accordance with the teachings of the presentapplication and/or which has an application installed thereon, forexample a program, e.g., an app, operating in accordance with theteachings of the present application. The data eyeglasses 124 includetwo temples 134 a, 134 b, between which two lenses 136 a, 136 b arearranged which are connected to each other via a bridge 138. One or moreof the lenses 136 a, 136 b include(s) a display portion 140 on whichdata to be presented to the wearer of the eyeglasses 124 can bedisplayed. In addition, the data eyeglasses 124 include an input/outputunit (I/O unit), which may further comprise the data processing elementsthat may be used so as to be able to run a program operating inaccordance with the teachings of the present application. The I/O unit142 is connected to the display area 140 via a cable 143 so as toprovide the display area 140 with the data that may be used for display.In addition, the I/O unit 142 enables data being input by the wearer ofthe glasses 124. In the example shown, the data eyeglasses 124 include,in the area of the bridge 138, a wireless communication module 144 forwireless communication 146, and a camera module 148.

In accordance with the embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1, of the presentinvention, the wearable computer 122, 124 worn by the site manager 118is provided for receiving process data regarding the road finishingprocess, as is schematically depicted by arrows 150 a to 150 c. By meansof the wireless communication module 130, 144, the wearable computer isable to receive process data regarding predetermined parameters from theasphalt mixing plant 100 during transport of the asphalt and/or from theconstruction site. Selected process data may be displayed on the display128, 140 of the wearable computer 122, 124; a predetermined, oradmissible, range within which the displayed process data is supposed tolie is predefined. If this range is left, the site manager 118 isalerted, for example in that a vibrating alert is triggered.Alternatively or additionally, a visual or acoustic alert may betriggered, so that the site manager 118 is immediately informed of anydeviations as soon as they occur without constantly having to keep aneye on the process data. This enables the site manager to initiateappropriate countermeasures without delay, for example by takingmeasures at the asphalt mixing plant 100, during transport 102 and/or atthe construction site 104. These measures may be initiated, for example,by an input being effected via the wearable computer 122, 124, whichinput will then be forwarded to the corresponding units via the wirelesscommunication module 130, 144.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary representation of process parameters on adisplay 128, 140 of a wearable computer 122, 124. Actually, FIG. 2 showsa representation of the display 128 of a smartwatch 122 which has beenprogrammed in accordance with the teachings of the present application.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the smartwatch 122 displays thetemperature of the asphalt material on its display 128, for example thetemperature of the asphalt material during its processing by the roadfinishing machine 114. The temperature of the asphalt material duringits processing and/or placement on the part of the road finishingmachine 114 is detected at the plank of the road finishing machine or byan external, e.g., hand-worn, sensor 116, as was discussed above. In thearea 152, the display 128 includes a numerical indication of thetemperature value. In the upper part of the display 128, the temperatureis depicted graphically, the display 128 indicating a lower limit 154and an upper limit 156 of the temperature, which in the embodiment shownare 100° C. and 200° C., respectively. The numerical indication 152 isfurther depicted graphically over a predetermined time duration, as isshown at 158. As can be seen, the upper limits for the temperature rangeapproximately halfway between the lower limit 154 and the upper limit156, i.e., within the admissible range. The area 160 of the display 128indicates that there is a wireless communication, a Bluetoothcommunication in the embodiment depicted, with the device MTPS-100,which is also indicated, so that the display 128 indicates thetemperature, on the one hand, and indicates where the temperature comesfrom, on the other hand, i.e., which unit it comes from, which in theembodiment shown is either the road finishing machine 114 or the sensor116. In the area below the numerical temperature indication 152, thedate and the current time of the day are indicated as well.

FIG. 2 is merely an exemplary representation, and in accordance withother embodiments, other process parameters or additional processparameters may also be displayed. Moreover, provision may be made forindicating a purely graphic representation of the process data or apurely numerical representation of the process data, an indication ofthe upper limit/lower limit being optional in accordance withembodiments. For utilization in accordance with the invention it issufficient for the smartwatch to have knowledge of the limits (withoutthe limits needing to be displayed), so that when said limits areexceeded/fallen below, corresponding alerting may be triggered and bedisplayed accordingly.

In accordance with the invention, therefore, process data is displayedon the smartwatch or on the data eyeglasses, and the smartwatch and/orthe data eyeglasses is/are capable of showing a reaction in the eventthat process data lie outside an admissible range 154, 156, for exampleby alerting the wearer and/or site manager, either by means of anacoustic signal, a visual signal or by means of tactile alerting. Inaccordance with embodiments, the reaction shown by the wearable computermay include vibrating, blinking and/or outputting of a warning tone. Thevibrating function is advantageous in the use at the construction site104 since there is usually a large amount of noise in the surroundingsof the construction site and since a warning tone might not be perceivedby a person.

The site manager or project manager 118 present at the construction sitemay immediately take appropriate measures, in accordance withembodiments, in response to the alert, such as reduce or increase thespeed of the road finishing machine 114, change machine parameters onthe road finishing machine 114 or on the roller of a miller, changemixing temperatures at the asphalt mixing plant and the like so as tothereby ensure the desired placement quality of the road.

Further embodiments of the present invention will be explained in moredetail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, said embodiments beingexplained by means of the smartwatch 122 shown in FIG. 1, theexplanations being equally applicable, however, when data eyeglasses 124in accordance with FIG. 1 are used. In addition, the embodiments shownin FIGS. 3 to 5 will be explained by means of a data communicationbetween the wearable computer and a road finishing machine 114 at theconstruction site 104; however, the embodiments and explanations whichfollow will equally apply to communication with other units whichprovide data at the construction site 104 and/or during transport 102 orat the asphalt mixing plant 100.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein a further computer 162, e.g., alaptop computer, a tablet computer or a smartphone, is arranged at theconstruction site 104 in addition to the wearable computer in the formof the smartwatch 122. The computer 162 includes a processor 164 and awireless communication module, or a wireless interface 166,communicating with the smartwatch 122, on the one hand, as is indicatedby the arrow 132, and enabling a radio link to the road finishingmachine 114, on the other hand, as is depicted by arrow 168. Thewearable computer 162 is provided for detecting parameters in thecontext of the road finishing process, for example via the wirelesscommunication module 166, and to present same to a site manager 118 atthe construction site 104, for example in a manner as is basically knownin conventional technology. In addition, the computer 162 is programmedto enable the site manager 118 to select at least one parameter from theparameters displayed there and to transmit the process data of saidparameter to the smartwatch 122 for being displayed thereon. Thus, theembodiment depicted by means of FIG. 3 enables the site manager 118 whois at the construction site 104 to manually select which data from whichmachine is to be displayed on the display 128 of the smartwatch 122 (oron the data eyeglasses 124). This approach is advantageous since thedisplay area 128 on the smartwatch 122 (or on the data eyeglasses 124)is limited, so that only some of the total process data can bepresented. To enable this communication, the smartwatch 122 has thewireless communication module 130 so as to establish a radio link, e.g.,a Bluetooth link, for example, so as to create a communication with thesmartphone, tablet computer and/or laptop computer 162. The computer 162is programmed such that the site manager, or project manager, is giventhe possibility of triggering functions on the data eyeglasses and/or onthe smartwatch so as to determine which machine and process data is tobe displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein thesmartwatch 122 and/or the wearable computer directly communicate(s) withthe road finishing machine 114 at a construction site 104, as isindicated by means of arrow 132. The embodiment shown by means of FIG. 4enables a communication of the smartwatch 122 (the data eyeglasses 124)with the road finishing machine 114. The road finishing machine 114,and/or the other machines/vehicles/sensors with which a correspondingcommunication is to occur include a suitable communication device, suchas a WLAN module, which communicates with the wireless communicationmodule, configured as a WLAN module, of the wearable computer. Inaccordance with embodiments, the sensors and measuring means of thefinishing machines as well as the control and evaluation units thereofcommunicate via the CAN (controller area network) bus. To implement theinventive procedure, provision is made, in accordance with embodiments,for providing a further bus node along the CAN bus, specifically in theform of a CAN/WLAN gateway, so that the corresponding data on the CANbus may be provided to the WLAN module for transmission to the wearablecomputer.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the present application inaccordance with which the smartwatch 122 (data eyeglasses) communicateswith a server or central computer 170 positioned at a distance from theconstruction site 104. In accordance with this embodiment, the roadfinishing machine 114 also communicates with the central computer 170,as is indicated by the arrow 172. In addition, the computer 162explained by means of FIG. 3 is provided, which additionally is providedwith a mobile radio module 174 so as to enable, via a mobile radio link176, a communication with the central computer 170, which also comprisesa mobile radio module 178. The embodiment shown by means of FIG. 5 thusenables a communication of the smartwatch 122 with the central computerunit 170 arranged at a distance from the construction site 104, and forthis purpose additionally uses a smartphone or a tablet PC 162communicating with the smartwatch 122 via the communication unit 166,for example via a Bluetooth connection, in the above described manner.Communication with the central computer 170 and/or the server iseffected, as was mentioned above, via a super-local area network, e.g.,GSM, it being possible for the mobile radio network to be a terrestrialor a satellite-based network. In the embodiment shown by means of FIG.5, a communication of the smartwatch with all of the relevant positionsis enabled, for example with the asphalt mixing plant, along thetransport and at the construction site, so that data display of therelevant process data is enabled along any position of the processchain. If data lies outside an admissible range along the process chain,for example at the asphalt mixing plant or during transport, e.g., if amixing and/or fill-in temperature at the asphalt mixing plant is toolow, a corresponding reaction may be generated via the smartwatch, suchas a vibration, for example, so that the site manager will beimmediately made aware of this deficiency and may possibly immediatelyinitiate steps to remedy said deficiency.

In accordance with further embodiments of the present application, thewearable computer is configured in the form of data eyeglasses (seeFIG. 1) which comprise the camera module 148 in addition to thecommunication module 144, to the display module 140 and to theinput/output module 142. In accordance with embodiments, provision ismade for an automatic selection of the machine, for example of the roadfinishing machine 114 at the construction site 104, from which theprocess data is to be provided for being displayed on the display area140, to be effected while using the camera. The data eyeglasses 124detect a machine, e.g., the road finishing machine 114, via the cameramodule 148 and/or via the camera installed therein, and the detectedimage is sent to a smartphone, a tablet PC or a laptop 162 (see FIGS. 3and 5) via the radio interface 132. By means of image processing, thecomputer 162 recognizes the machine 114 and automatically selects same,so that machine or process data of the machine that is aimed at andselected, for example, in the case of a road finishing machine, thecurrent p placement arameters such as the temperature and the materialconsumption, is displayed to the site manager or project manager who isat the construction site, whereby the site manager immediately obtainsan overview of the current placement process and is immediately informedabout any excessive deviations.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the inventive method of monitoring processdata in road finishing. According to the invention, the process data ofthe road finishing process is received on a wearable computer in stepS100 and is presented to a wearer of the wearable computer in step S102.If it is found that the process data lies outside a predetermined range,the wearer will be alerted by the wearable computer in step S104, forexample by means of a vibrating alert and/or by a visual/acousticsignal. In accordance with embodiments, provision may be made for aninput into the wearable computer to be generated in response to thealerting, as is depicted in the optional step S106. In response toinput, the road finishing process may be controlled such that theprocess data returns to the predetermined range, as is depicted in theoptional step S108.

Embodiments of the present invention were described above with referenceto a data watch or to data eyeglasses as possible implementations of thewearable computer. The present invention is not limited to said forms ofa wearable computer. Embodiments include other forms of a wearablecomputer, e.g., an electronic contact lens, a head-up display displayed,e.g., on the visor of a building-site helmet, or an augmented-realitydisplay device.

In other embodiments, the wearable computer includes an adaptive device,e.g., a bracelet, which may vibrate so as to alert the wearer, or otherdevices comprising no display but enabling the wearer to be alerted. Insuch embodiments, the wearable computer is configured to receive theprocess data of the road finishing process, e.g., along with informationindicating an admissible range for the process data, such as an upperand/or lower limit for the data. If the wearable computer finds thatprocess data lies outside the range indicated by the limits, alerting ofthe wearer of the wearable computer will be effected, e.g., by means ofa vibration of the bracelet and/or by means of an acoustic/visualsignal, e.g., a warning tone or a change in color of the wearablecomputer. Said alerting enables the wearer to check the data, e.g., on alaptop computer, which receives and presents the process data. Via thelaptop computer, inputs may then be made so as to control the process,so that the process data will return to the admissible range.Optionally, the bracelet may include a display for presenting the dataand/or an input device for inputting information for controlling theroad finishing process.

Even though some aspects have been described within the context of adevice, it is understood that said aspects also represent a descriptionof the corresponding method, so that a block or a structural componentof a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step oras a feature of a method step. By analogy therewith, aspects that havebeen described in connection with or as a method step also represent adescription of a corresponding block or detail or feature of acorresponding device.

Depending on specific implementation requirements, embodiments of theinvention may be implemented in hardware or in software. Implementationmay be effected while using a digital storage medium, for example afloppy disc, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, anEEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard disc or any other magnetic or opticalmemory which has electronically readable control signals stored thereonwhich may cooperate, or cooperate, with a programmable computer systemsuch that the respective method is performed. This is why the digitalstorage medium may be computer-readable. Some embodiments in accordancewith the invention thus comprise a data carrier which compriseselectronically readable control signals that are capable of cooperatingwith a programmable computer system such that any of the methodsdescribed herein is performed.

Generally, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as acomputer program product having a program code, the program code beingeffective to perform any of the methods when the computer programproduct runs on a computer. The program code may also be stored on amachine-readable carrier, for example.

Other embodiments include the computer program for performing any of themethods described herein, said computer program being stored on amachine-readable carrier.

In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method thus is a computerprogram which has a program code for performing any of the methodsdescribed herein, when the computer program runs on a computer. Afurther embodiment of the inventive methods thus is a data carrier (or adigital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which thecomputer program for performing any of the methods described herein isrecorded.

A further embodiment of the inventive method thus is a data stream or asequence of signals representing the computer program for performing anyof the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence ofsignals may be configured, for example, to be transferred via a datacommunication link, for example via the internet.

A further embodiment includes a processing means, for example a computeror a programmable logic device, configured or adapted to perform any ofthe methods described herein.

A further embodiment includes a computer on which the computer programfor performing any of the methods described herein is installed.

In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example afield-programmable gate array, an FPGA) may be used for performing someor all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In someembodiments, a field-programmable gate array may cooperate with amicroprocessor to perform any of the methods described herein.Generally, the methods are performed, in some embodiments, by anyhardware device. Said hardware device may be any universally applicablehardware such as a computer processor (CPU), or may be a hardwarespecific to the method, such as an ASIC.

While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments,there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall withinthe scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are manyalternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of thepresent invention. It is therefore intended that the following appendedclaims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutationsand equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for monitoring process data inroad finishing, comprising: a wearable computer, the wearable computerbeing configured to receive process data of the road finishing process,and the wearable computer being configured to effect alerting of thewearer of the wearable computer in the event that process data lieoutside a predetermined range, wherein the wearable computer isconfigured to enable the wearer to perform an input, in response to thealert, to control the road finishing process such that the process datareturns to the predetermined range.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the wearable computer is configured to present the process datato a wearer of the wearable computer.
 3. The device as claimed in claim1, wherein the wearable computer is configured to receive the processdata from a construction site where the road finishing is performed,from a place of manufacture where the material for road finishing isproduced, and/or from one or more positions located between the place ofmanufacture and the construction site.
 4. The device as claimed in claim1, comprising: a computer configured to receive process data for aplurality of parameters of the road finishing, the computer and thewearable computer each comprising a wireless communication module, andthe computer being configured to enable the wearer of the wearablecomputer to select at least one parameter from the plurality ofparameters of road finishing and to effect transmission of the processdata of the selected parameter to the wearable computer.
 5. The deviceas claimed in claim 4, wherein the computer is configured to furthercommunicate, via the wireless communication module, with one or moreconstruction machines and/or with one or more construction vehiclesand/or with one or more sensors so as to receive the process data. 6.The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the computer comprises awearable computer arranged at the construction site.
 7. The device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the computer comprises a control computer ofa construction machine, of a construction vehicle or of a sensor.
 8. Thedevice as claimed in claim 4, comprising: a central computer arranged ata distance from the construction site and the place of manufacture andcomprising a mobile radio module so as to establish a terrestrial orsatellite-based mobile radio link between one or more constructionmachines and/or one or more construction vehicles and/or one or moresensors and the central computer, the computer comprising a mobile radiomodule so as to effect a terrestrial or satellite-based mobile radiolink with the central computer so as to acquire the process data via thecentral computer.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thewearable computer is configured to effect visual alerting and/oracoustic alerting and/or tactile alerting.
 10. The device as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the wearable computer is configured to effect avibrating alert.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thewearable computer comprises a data watch.
 12. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the wearable computer comprises an augmented-realitydisplay device.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thewearable computer comprises data eyeglasses or a head-up display.
 14. Adevice for monitoring process data in road finishing, comprising: awearable computer, the wearable computer being configured to receiveprocess data of the road finishing process, and the wearable computerbeing configured to effect alerting of the wearer of the wearablecomputer in the event that process data lie outside a predeterminedrange, wherein the wearable computer comprises a camera, the wearablecomputer being configured to send an image of a construction machine, ofa construction vehicle or of a sensor from which the process data is tobe received, to the computer via the wireless communication module, thecomputer being configured to identify the unit depicted in the receivedimage, to request process data for at least one selected parameter fromthe identified unit, and to send the process data for the selectedparameter to the wearable computer, via the wireless communicationmodule, for presentation to the wearer of the data eyeglasses.
 15. Amethod of monitoring process data in road finishing, the methodcomprising: receiving process data of the road finishing process on awearable computer, alerting the wearer of the wearable computer by thewearable computer if the process data lies outside a predeterminedrange, in response to the alerting, generating an input on the wearablecomputer, and in response to the input, controlling the road finishingprocess such that the process data returns to the predetermined range.16. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising: presenting thereceived process data to a wearer of the wearable computer.
 17. Anon-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program storedthereon to perform the method of monitoring process data in roadfinishing, said method comprising: receiving process data of the roadfinishing process on a wearable computer, alerting the wearer of thewearable computer by the wearable computer if the process data liesoutside a predetermined range, in response to the alerting, generatingan input on the wearable computer, and in response to the input,controlling the road finishing process such that the process datareturns to the predetermined range, when said computer program is run bya computer.
 18. A method of monitoring process data in road finishing,the method comprising: receiving process data of the road finishingprocess on a wearable computer, alerting the wearer of the wearablecomputer by the wearable computer if the process data lies outside apredetermined range, sending an image taken by a camera of the wearablecomputer, of a construction machine, of a construction vehicle or of asensor from which the process data is to be received, to the computervia a wireless communication module, identifying, by the computer, theunit depicted in the received image, to request process data for atleast one selected parameter from the identified unit, and sending theprocess data for the selected parameter to the wearable computer, viathe wireless communication module, for presentation to the wearer of thedata eyeglasses.
 19. A non-transitory digital storage medium having acomputer program stored thereon to perform the method of monitoringprocess data in road finishing, said method comprising: receivingprocess data of the road finishing process on a wearable computer, andalerting the wearer of the wearable computer by the wearable computer ifthe process data lies outside a predetermined range, sending an imagetaken by a camera of the wearable computer, of a construction machine,of a construction vehicle or of a sensor from which the process data isto be received, to the computer via a wireless communication module,identifying, by the computer, the unit depicted in the received image,to request process data for at least one selected parameter from theidentified unit, and sending the process data for the selected parameterto the wearable computer, via the wireless communication module, forpresentation to the wearer of the data eyeglasses, when said computerprogram is run by a computer.